Method and machine for shaping the bottoms of shoes



March-4, 1941. F. E. CURTIS 2,233,519

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES Filed Nov. 13, 1939 Patented Mar. .4, 1941 UNITED STATES lMETHOD AND MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE BOTTOMS 0F SHOES Fount E. Curtis, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. J., a

Jersey corporation of New Application November 13, 1939, Serial No. 304,000

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the shaping of the bottoms of shoes and is illustrated herein in its application to the shaping or leveling of the bottoms of shoes of the type provided with outsoles made of comparatively soft material, although it will be understood that the invention, in its more general aspects, is not thus limited in utility, but is applicable to the manufacture of shoes of various kinds.

In the manufacture of shoes of the abovementioned type it has sometimes proved to be difi'icult to produce as even and smooth a bottom surface as desired in a leveling operation, particularly when the leveling pressure is applied progressively, which is the frequent practice. In applying the leveling pressure progressively to different portions of the sole by means of the usual roll, it has been found that there is a tendency for the material of the sole to creep under the action of the roll with the result that an objectionable wavy appearance is produced in the sole. While more satisfactory results may be obtained by the use of a molded saddle applied tightly to the bottom of the shoe for transmitting the pressure of the roll to the sole, it has also been found that creeping of the material of the sole is not entirely avoided, since the pressure of the roll on the saddle sometimes tends to displace the saddle relatively to the shoe.

The present invention, in one important aspect, provides a novel method whereby the desired shaping or leveling of the sole is effected by the use of a roll and an unmolded apron of flexible material, preferably leather, interposed loosely between the roll and the shoe bottom. It has been found that the apron acts to transmit the shaping or leveling pressure to the sole with the desired uniformity and to modify the action of the roll so as to avoid any tendency for the material of the sole to creep. For the practice of this method there may advantageously be utilized machines of the type used heretofore to apply leveling pressure progressively to different portions of a shoe sole'successively, the apron being interposed loosely between the roll and the shoe bottom for transmitting the pressure of the roll to the sole.

In another aspect the invention provides a novel organization whereby the use of a flex ible apron, such, for example, as above described interposed loosely between the leveling roll and the shoe bottom for transmitting the pressure of the leveling roll to the bottom of the shoe, is greatly facilitated. As herein illustrated, the

apron isconnected at one end to the shoe-supporting jack with its other end free so that it may be draped over the leveling roll and thus maintained in an out-Of the-Way position at the end of each leveling operation to avoid interference between it and different shoes as the shoes are mounted on the jack and removed therefrom, the apron being applied loosely to the bottom of each shoe by the roll in response to the relative movement of the shoe-supporting jack and the roll at the beginning of each leveling operation.

The invention will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawing and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a machine adapted for use in practicing the method of this invention and in which features of the invention are embodied, and

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the relative positions of the apron and the leveling roll in applying pressure progressively to different portions of the shoe bottom.

Since the invention in its machine aspects is illustrated as applied to a leveling machine of a well-known type, only such part-s of the machine as it is necessary to refer'to for an understanding of the invention are shown and will be described in detail. Features of the general organization of machines of this type are described in various prior United States Letters Patent,'including. Letters Patent No.1,667,761, granted on May 1, 1928, and No. 1,719,158, granted on July 2,1929, both upon applications of E. E. Winkle'y and H. A. Davenport. It willbe understood that the machine includes an automaticallycontrolled leveling roll l0 and a shoe support orjack which, in the power operation of the machine, is moved. automatically in directions lengthwise of the shoe to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe. The jack comprises a toe post l2 and a heel post M which are pivoted together for relative adjustment for shoes of different sizes by means of a threaded adjusting rodinot shown) which moves the heelpost toward or from the toe post so that the toe ends ofshoesof differ.- ent sizes will be presented in substantially the same relation to the roll I0. The jack as a whole is operatively movable about the axis of a shaft (not shown) on which the toe post is mounted, and power-operated means, not herein shown, is provided for imparting to the jack oscillatory movements about this axis to carry the shoe rearwardly and forwardly under the leveling roll. The toe and heel posts are provided with means for supporting a shoe and. last for the leveling operation. Mounted on the toe post I2 is a toe rest comprising a block l6 having secured to it a rubber pad I8 for engaging the toe end of the shoe. The heel post l4 supports-a block 2|) carrying a spindle 22 arranged to enter the spindle hole in the heel end of the last. As shown, the block 20 is pivotally connected to the heel post. for swinging movements about an axis extending laterally-of the shoe to permit tipping movements to be imparted to the spindle in directions" toward and from the toe rest. by a link 24 to mechanism, not herein shown, whereby the block and spindle may be swung to press the toe end of the shoe firm-1y down upon the toe rest. v V

For purposes of this invention there is provided an unmolded. apron26. of flexible material, preferably: leather, ior transmitting the pressure of the leveling roll l0 progressively todifferent portions of thesole of a shoe on the shoe support. The apron 26 is preferably of asize sufiicient to cover the-bottom of; the largest shoe to be operated-upon, and,asillustrated, is connected at one endby. means. of a plate 28 and screws 30 to an upwardly extending projection 32 on the toe post 12.; This permits the operator to place the apron ina convenient out-of-the-way position at the end of each leveling operation. by draping the apron over theleveling roll I0, thus avoiding any interference between the apron and difierent shoes-as they are mounted on the shoe support port. is moved. in. directions lengthwise of the shoe relatively to. the leveling roll Ill, the apron 26 moves Withthe shoe support. while extending loosely over the bottom. of the shoe between the shoe andthe leveling roll, Accordingly, the leveling roll l0. rolls on the. apron 26, and the pressure of the rollis transmittedthrough the apron pregressively to difierent. portionsof. the shoe sole successively with the result. that creeping of the material of the sole is avoided and the desired even. and smooth. bottom surface is produced.

While the invention isherein illustrated in. its application. to themanufacture of shoesv the out soles of' which are made of comparatively soft material,,it is not necessarily limited to use on shoes of that particular type, since it. is contemplated that an apron such as that shown and described is likewise well adapted for use not only in applying sole-leveling pressure to shoes of various kinds but also in applying pressure to the bottoms of welt shoes, prior to the applications of the outsoles to the shoes.

Having, described the invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the. United. States is:

The block 20 is connected.

1. That improvement in methods of shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes which consists in applying loosely over the bottom of a shoe an unmolded apron of flexible material, and applying rolling pressure to said loosely applied apron to shape or level different portions of the shoe bottom; l

2. That improvement in. methods of shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes which consists in applying loosely over the bottom of a shoe an unmolded flexible leather apron, and while said apron is thus loosely applied operating through it to apply rolling pressure progressively to different portions of the forepart and shank of the shoe sole-to level them.

3. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a roll, a" shoe support, said support and roll being relatively movable in directions lengthwise of a shoe on said support to cause the roll to operate progressively along the shoe bottom, and a flexible apron connectedat one end only to the shoe support and. arranged to be interposed loosely between the leveling roll and the shoe bottom for transmitting the pressure of they roll to the bottom of the shoe. V

4. A machine. for shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes having, in combination, a shoe support and a leveling roll relatively movable to level' the forepart and shank oi the sole of a shoe on said support, and an umnolded leather 0 apron connected, at one end only to the shoe support, said apron being adapted to cover the bottom of the shoe and being arranged to be interposed loosely between the roll and the shoe bot tom for transmitting the pressure of the roll progressively to different portions of the forepart and shank successively in response to relative movement of the support and said roll.

5. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling roll and a shoe support comprising. a heel post and. a toe. post, said shoe support. and leveling roll being relatively movable in dirrections lengthwise of a shoe on said support to cause the roll to operate progressively alongthe' shoe bottom, of an unmolded. apron of flexible material arranged to extend loosely between the roll. and the shoe bottom for transmitting the pressure of the roll'successively to, different portions of the bottom of the shoe,.s aid apron being. connected at one'end to saidtoe post to permit it, to be draped over the. roll in an out-of-the-way position at the end of each leveling operation.

6. In a leveling machine, thecombination with a leveling roll and a shoe. support relatively movable in directions lengthwise of a shoe onv said along the bottom of the shoe; of an unmolded.

FOUNT oun'rrs 

